November 2003
We went to Branson over Thanksgiving and stayed at a condo with my parents. Branson was more fun than I anticipated, and the mall was great. There was a clown making balloon animals at a little stand, right next to the pizza place where we decided to have dinner. Jake watched in amazement for a little while. Then sauntered up to the man and asked if he could help. The clown nodded and jake got comfortable at teh table right next to the clown, like he was meant to sit there. He sat for an hour watching as Mickey Mouse and poodles and a giraffe were neatly crafted. He held the balloons and helped while the man twisted and turned. He smiled graciously at the customers and thanked them when they put tips in the jar.We watched from a couple fo tables away, amazed at his lack of self-consciousness that stops others from doing exactly what they want.
When we got ready to leave, he thanked the man for letting him help. The man smiled and made him three balloons shaped like an alien. Jake treasured those all the way home and they stayed in his room until the helium finally collapsed.
The Story behind the Stories
When Jake was three, he was diagnosed with a nasal encephalocoele which required brain surgery. Ever since then, he has struggled to catch up academically, but his heart is one of the purest I have ever known. Because his brain didn't process well, he never learned stranger anxiety and most of the time doesn't fear anything. I started these as a way to remember all the things he says and does that are so very different from my other children. The aftermath of that brain surgery has been ADD and epilepsy, which he has also taken in stride. He is a joy most of the time, I only wish people could appreciate his uniqueness and spirit, rather than wanting him to fit into a mold.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Cereal Killer
May, 2004
Jacob has a friend from school who was in his special ed class. This little guy spent the night but could not get comfortable or settled down. WE had to keep remaking the bed on the floor, piling more and more covers until he finally got comfortable and fell asleep. While he was sleeping, he wet the bed. Not a big deal, except that he didn’t tell me. The five blankets beneath him and his pajamas were left on the floor – wet – for most of the day.
Needless to say, I was feeling a little cautious about having him stay overnight again. This little guy is also having a lot of emotional problems and has been leaving strange messages on the answering machine. One time he left a series of messages to the effect that if Jacob did not call him back immediately their relationship was over. Odd for a 9 year old.
When he called asking to come over and stay again, Jerra piped in saying that she read 80% of serial killers used to wet the bed (don't know if there is any truth to this).
Jacob immediately defended his friend saying, “ Mom, he doesn't even eat cereal - his mom is on that same kind of diet you guys are on. She thinks cereal is bad for him.”
Jacob has a friend from school who was in his special ed class. This little guy spent the night but could not get comfortable or settled down. WE had to keep remaking the bed on the floor, piling more and more covers until he finally got comfortable and fell asleep. While he was sleeping, he wet the bed. Not a big deal, except that he didn’t tell me. The five blankets beneath him and his pajamas were left on the floor – wet – for most of the day.
Needless to say, I was feeling a little cautious about having him stay overnight again. This little guy is also having a lot of emotional problems and has been leaving strange messages on the answering machine. One time he left a series of messages to the effect that if Jacob did not call him back immediately their relationship was over. Odd for a 9 year old.
When he called asking to come over and stay again, Jerra piped in saying that she read 80% of serial killers used to wet the bed (don't know if there is any truth to this).
Jacob immediately defended his friend saying, “ Mom, he doesn't even eat cereal - his mom is on that same kind of diet you guys are on. She thinks cereal is bad for him.”
Pictionary
November 2003
The kids and I were having dinner at Don Pablo’s on a busy Friday night. Since we were getting restless, we decided to play pictionary. Josh started and Jerra guessed the picture. Then it was Jerra’s turn and she drew a little smiley face and Jake guessed it. Then he took the paper and covered the sheet with his arms as though protecting a great secret. Jerra asked what he was doing. “ I don’t want you to peek!” Uh Jake, the whole point of the game is for us to see and guess the picture! We all burst out laughing.
The kids and I were having dinner at Don Pablo’s on a busy Friday night. Since we were getting restless, we decided to play pictionary. Josh started and Jerra guessed the picture. Then it was Jerra’s turn and she drew a little smiley face and Jake guessed it. Then he took the paper and covered the sheet with his arms as though protecting a great secret. Jerra asked what he was doing. “ I don’t want you to peek!” Uh Jake, the whole point of the game is for us to see and guess the picture! We all burst out laughing.
My Buddy lives here…When Jacob disappears
August 2001
Even though we have only been in this neighborhood for about 6 months, Jacob knows every kid in the neighborhood. He has a constant problem with not telling us where he is going and is notorious for being somewhere new when we go to find him. When he was smaller, I would check every half hour or so. But the daily grind of checking for him gave way to a more practical approach.
I bought a watch with an alarm so that he would know to come home when the alarm went off. Unfortunately, he just had his friends turn off the alarm and continued playing. Therefore, the task continues to try to get him to report in with some regularity. This is not a defiance issue – he just is friends with everyone and goes off to play with another friend when the first has gone in for the night. I have been blessed with other neighborhood mothers who are patient with him and remind him to check in.
Usually I can find him among the scores of children on the two streets around us, but one night, I couldn't find him among any of those kids. Their reports that he had been seen riding hours ago in the direction away from the house only increased my fears.
After driving through the neighborhood looking for him for over an hour, I went to the next neighborhood over. A road that runs through both neighborhoods and is not busy attaches it - but I don't know anyone in that area. It was only a few moments before I saw his bike strewn in a front yard. I knocked on the door - but there was no answer. I called out for him, but got no response. Finally, I ran into the owner of the house. He was a big man with an oxygen tank. He said he had a couple of boys and that Jake came over there to play with his son. By the dad's report, Jake had been there for about an hour, and he had been there before. I gave him my number so that he could call if Jake came over again. Jake didn't get why it was a problem to be SO far from the house and not check in. "I knew it was okay mom, my buddy lives here!"
Even though we have only been in this neighborhood for about 6 months, Jacob knows every kid in the neighborhood. He has a constant problem with not telling us where he is going and is notorious for being somewhere new when we go to find him. When he was smaller, I would check every half hour or so. But the daily grind of checking for him gave way to a more practical approach.
I bought a watch with an alarm so that he would know to come home when the alarm went off. Unfortunately, he just had his friends turn off the alarm and continued playing. Therefore, the task continues to try to get him to report in with some regularity. This is not a defiance issue – he just is friends with everyone and goes off to play with another friend when the first has gone in for the night. I have been blessed with other neighborhood mothers who are patient with him and remind him to check in.
Usually I can find him among the scores of children on the two streets around us, but one night, I couldn't find him among any of those kids. Their reports that he had been seen riding hours ago in the direction away from the house only increased my fears.
After driving through the neighborhood looking for him for over an hour, I went to the next neighborhood over. A road that runs through both neighborhoods and is not busy attaches it - but I don't know anyone in that area. It was only a few moments before I saw his bike strewn in a front yard. I knocked on the door - but there was no answer. I called out for him, but got no response. Finally, I ran into the owner of the house. He was a big man with an oxygen tank. He said he had a couple of boys and that Jake came over there to play with his son. By the dad's report, Jake had been there for about an hour, and he had been there before. I gave him my number so that he could call if Jake came over again. Jake didn't get why it was a problem to be SO far from the house and not check in. "I knew it was okay mom, my buddy lives here!"
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About Me
- Loner
- Mother to 3 wonderous young adults, dreamer, daughter, and still in search of love's elusive gifts